Chapter 228: Chapter 228

Savannah woke before the sun.

Her body felt heavy. Her eyes were sore from the night of tears. She closed them for a moment and tried to breathe slow. The house was quiet. Liam was still asleep upstairs. Adrian had left early for a meeting, but he had kissed her goodbye and told her to rest. She wanted to rest. She tried. But her mind would not stop.

She sat up and put her hand on her belly. The baby moved like a small wave. Savannah smiled for a second. That small kick calmed her a little. She whispered, “Hi little one. Mommy is here.”

She went to the window and looked out. The garden looked soft in the pale light. Birds were starting to sing. The world looked normal and kind, and for a moment she wished she could stay in that moment forever.

She made tea slowly. Her hands trembled a bit when she poured hot water. The kettle sang and she felt the steam warm her face. She set a cup on the table and sat down. Her phone lay face down on the wood. She did not want to look at it. She feared what she might find.

After a while, she picked the phone up. The messages were still there, unread and ugly. She swallowed and forced herself not to open them. She pressed the phone into the drawer and closed it. For now, she would hide it. She did not want Adrian to see her break.

Liam came down with messy hair and a sleepy yawn. He climbed into her lap and hugged her tight. “Morning, mummy,” he mumbled.

“Good morning, baby,” she said, and hugged him back. His small arms around her neck felt like a warm shield. For a few minutes the fear could not reach her. She watched his face, his eyes bright and trusting. He hummed a little tune and asked for pancakes.

She smiled and kissed his forehead. “Pancakes it is,” she said. She moved in the kitchen, slow and careful. The simple tasks kept her mind busy. She flipped pancakes and made scrambled eggs. She kept her hands steady. She kept her voice calm.

Adrian came in later, his suit on, hair still a little messy from sleep. He looked tired but his face lit up when he saw them. “How are my two favorite people?” he asked.

Savannah forced a smile. “We are okay. Just tired.” She looked at him and did not tell him how her night had been. She did not tell him about Nathaniel’s text or the strange message that had left her shaken. She could not bring herself to put that weight on him now.

Adrian watched her for a moment. His face went soft. He reached out and touched her cheek. “You did not sleep much,” he said.

She shook her head. “I slept a little. I’m fine.” Her voice shook a little and she cleared her throat.

He hesitated, studying her. “Savannah, you look pale. I can ask Aunty Lisa to come over today. She can help watch Liam while you rest.” He did not ask hard questions. He did not push. He only offered help like he always did.

She nodded and hugged him. “Thank you. But it’s ok. I can rest later.” She did not want Aunty Lisa to worry more than she already did.

Adrian left for his car. He kissed both of them and stood for a long second like he wanted to say more. “Call me if you need me, okay? I will come back if you call.”

She nodded again. “I will.”

When the car door closed and he drove away, the house felt emptier. Savannah sat back at the table and tried to breathe slow. She told herself to be brave for Liam. She told herself to be calm for the baby.

She sent a message to Aunty Lisa: “I’m okay. Save the day for next week. Love you.” Aunty Lisa replied with a string of heart emojis and two words: “Call me.” Savannah looked at the reply and felt guilty. She wanted to tell Aunty Lisa everything. She knew Aunty Lisa would stand like a wall if she asked. But Savannah feared the trouble that might follow. She feared the fight with Nathaniel if he came. She feared the fight with herself.

She kept busy. She read with Liam, helped him with a drawing, and later laid him down for a nap. When he finally slept, she walked silently to the living room and sat by the window. She looked at the road. She listened for a sound. The house felt small. The shadows seemed longer. Every small noise made her jump.

Her phone buzzed on the table. She froze. She did not want to look. It was an unknown number again. Her hand reached for it slowly. The message preview showed a short line: “We are close.” She felt the chill swim down her spine. Her fingers shook. She swallowed and did not open it.

Savannah took the phone and put it inside a small box she kept in the drawer. She closed the lid and slid it under her clothes. She did not want any more fear right now.

She tried to rest, but the unease did not leave. She paced the living room once, twice. She checked the lock on the front door and the garden gate. They were fine. The neighbor’s dog barked and she jumped. She laughed at herself, a small, tired sound.

She thought of Nathaniel. She thought of his message: “I’m coming for my son.” She thought of how the words landed like a stone on her chest. She had wanted peace. She had wanted to move on. But the past had found a way to reach her again.

She looked at the photograph on the mantel — a small frame of her and Adrian on their wedding day, Liam tucked in beside them. She touched the glass and whispered, “Please, keep us safe.”

The phone remained quiet for a long time. Savannah stared at the window until the light moved across the floor and the afternoon shadows grew long. She did not call Adrian. She did not want to add more worry to his busy day. But she felt the need to tell someone. She wanted to tell someone simple and true. She picked up the phone again and typed a short message to Aunty Lisa: “Please drop by later. I’m a little off today.” She did not tell the whole truth, but the words felt like a small help.

She deleted the last lines and pressed send.

Later, a soft knock came at the door. Her heart jumped. She wiped her hands and opened the door. It was Rose, the maid. Her face was gentle. “Madam, Aunty Lisa will come in an hour. She sent a message.” Rose smiled, “She said to make tea and to not worry.”

Relief washed through Savannah like warm water. She thanked Rose with a small smile and closed the door. She sat down and let out a long breath she had been holding all morning. For a moment she allowed herself to breathe.

But as the front gate closed softly for a passing delivery, she heard a faint sound of an engine stop across the street. She looked up quickly. A small black van idled near the corner and then moved slowly away. Her heart leapt. She tried to tell herself it was nothing — just a delivery — but her hands tightened into fists.

She pressed her palm to her belly and whispered, “Please be safe.”

Outside, the sky was gentle, but inside Savannah felt the shadow of what might come. She forced a smile for the rest of the day, but the small box under her clothes held a quiet secret and a cold fear she could not shake.